Sheriff: Murdered family members died of blunt force trauma

Thursday

A Beason couple and three of their children died from blunt force trauma, Logan County Sheriff Steve Nichols said Thursday.

A Beason couple and three of their children died from blunt force trauma, Logan County Sheriff Steve Nichols said Thursday.

Nichols would not discuss or speculate what kind of weapon was used to kill Raymond “Rick” Gee, 46, his wife Ruth Gee, 39, and their children, Justina Constant, 16, Dillen Constant, 14, and Austin Gee, 11, all of whom were found dead Monday.

A sixth member of the family who was at the home, 3-year-old Tabitha Gee, also suffered the same types of injuries. She remained in critical but stable condition at a Peoria hospital.

The bodies were found by sheriff’s deputies and Illinois State Police inside the Gee’s ranch-style home in Beason, a town of about 200 people located about 10 miles east of Lincoln, after authorities received a 911 call at 4:26 p.m. Monday.

State police crime scene investigators completed their work at the home Wednesday afternoon, Nichols said. They took hundreds of items from the home, including photos and DNA samples.

"The forensic evidence in this case is significant but will take time to complete," he said.

Nichols continued to decline to answer questions regarding the timeline of the deaths, where victims were found in the house and whether police think the family was targeted or victims of a random attack.

Nichols said a tip line – still available to take calls at (217) 732-3000 – drew more than 100 callers over the past day. Many callers said they thought they saw a “gray, primered” pickup authorities say was seen in the Beason area about midnight Monday, roughly 16 hours before the victims’ bodies were discovered.

The pickup was a small Ford Ranger or Chevrolet S-10 with chrome exhaust pipes coming out of the bed of the truck.

Police pulled over several trucks matching the description but none of the stops have led to significant clues, authorities said.

Nichols also said Thursday a task force has been assembled to continue investigation into the crime. The group consists of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Lincoln police, FBI and the Logan County state’s attorney’s office. The Illinois Attorney General’ Office also has offered to help.

"It is imperative to note that this residence will remain a crime scene for an indefinite period,” Nichols said. “It has been boarded up and continues to be surrounded with crime scene tape and ‘no trespassing’ signs. Anyone caught on the premises will be arrested and charged with trespassing and obstructing justice.”

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office has scheduled another news conference at noon Friday at the Logan County Public Safety Complex in Lincoln.

GateHouse News Service

How to help

A support fund has been set up to help remaining family members with funeral and medical expenses. Checks with “Gee Family Fund” written in the memo line can be mailed to the Lincoln First United Methodist Church, 302 Broadway St., Lincoln, 62656.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.